Improvement in packages of powder-charges for blasting



H. M. BUIES.

Packages ,of Powder-Charges forlasting.`

No. 144,434. Patented Nov.11,1873.

lWITNESSES: INVENTUB 9,/ @a -f A Je, W2, @ma 624@ n fjfffw sv ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. BOIES, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PACKAGES OF POWDER-CHARGES FOR BLASTILNG.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,434, dated November 11, 1873; application filed October 4, 1873.

To all whomv 'it may concern: l

Be it known that I, HENRY M. BOIEs, of Scranton, in the county of Luzerne and State of i Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in -Cartridge-Izackages for Mining and Blasting Powders, of which the following is a specication:

Figure 1 is a side view of one of my improved packages, partly in section. Fig. 2 is aside view of the same, showing how it may be folded for transportation.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Hitherto mining and blasting powders have been packed for transportation and sale i-n wooden or metallic barrels or kegs, containing from twenty-five to one hundred pounds, the standard keg containing twenty-fivepounds. In use, it has been necessary to carry the keg to the place of operation, where its contents -were exposed to damage, and all in the vicinity to danger, until, after many blasts, it has all been consumed. The kdrilled hole has also been charged, or the cartridge filled directly from the mass in the keg. In mines this must be done by lamp-light, with great inconvenience and danger. The kegs employed have been expensive, land when emptied become useless, sumer, to remedy which disadvantages is the object of my invention.

The invention consists in packingthe powder in convenient quantities in long tubes o f paper, or any fabric or material of sufcient strength, rendered water-proof, if necessary,

of a proper shape and size to be used as a cari tridge, and of such a length in excess of the powder inside as shall allow of its being folded into a compact form, and divided for use into cartridges of any desired length or weight.

The necessity of adapting the quantity of powder in every cartridge to the work tobe done by the particular blast for which it is inthus entailing a loss upon the contended has hitherto prevented the prepara tion and sale of blasting-powders packed in cartridges for use. This difliculty is overcome by my invention. y A tube may be made, for instance, of ordinary blasting-paper, two inches in diameter and nine feet long, in which may be placed ten pounds of powder, the ends closed, and the whole made water-tight.

The tubeV being considerably longer than the space occupied Vby the powder, the latter may be separated at intervals in, the tube,

' which can then be folded over at thepoint of be separation for convenience of carriage.

Each cartridge tube or package may easily marked with the size, and quantity, and brand of its contents, and when it `comes to the consumer, he can measure oi from either end the quantity desired for a blast, slide the powder away from this point, divide the tube,

fold back the ends, and the cartridge is ready for use, proceeding in the same way until the whole package has been used. Thus the dan'- ger of preparing the `cartridge over the open keg, and the liability to damage of the exposed powder are avoided, land the time and labor of making the cartridge, as well as the materials of which it is composed, are saved. 4

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure'by Letters Patentl A cartridge-package, consisting of a series of charges contained in a tubeof suitable exl.

ible material, and separated one from another by suitable vintervals of space, as shown and described, whereby the charges may be' 'used successively, as requi vided and used in part, as set forth. l y HENRY'M. BOIES.

Witnesses:

'JAMES T. GRAHAM, -T. B. MOSHER.

red, or individually di-'. 

